Scottish farmer farmers are getting their second and final instalment of convergence funding by the end of January.
Around 18,000 farmers will benefit from the support worth £71.8m.
This comes from the £160m package which the UK government awarded Scotland due to its low average payment per hectare.
The convergence fund will focus payments on hill and upland farmers, who have had their less favoured support payments slashed to 40% of the historic rate.
Rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing has committed to channel the convergence money to bring these payments back up to a 100% rate.
Positive response
NFU Scotland president Andrew McCornick said: “The Scottish government has responded positively to NFU Scotland’s calls to fully make up the shortfall in LFASS payments for all those hit by the EU requirements that LFASS 2020 had to be paid out at 40% of the LFASS 2018 values.
Farmland market holds firm after extraordinary 2020
14 January 2021 |
Strutt & Parker says low supply and sustained demand means average prices remain firm
Farmland values rose by an average of 3% in 2020 with record low supply and relatively robust demand helping to underpin values, according to new analysis.
Strutt & Parker s Farmland Database shows that the average price of arable land was £9,300/acre and £7,200/acre for pasture.
About half of arable land sold in 2020 made £8,000-10,000/acre, with about 30% selling for £10,000/acre or more.
“A combination of low supply and sustained demand means that average prices remain firm, said Matthew Sudlow, head of estates and farm agency.